Method of and apparatus for feeding tape and projecting images therefrom



Jan. 21, 1936. um 2,028,146

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING TAPE AN'D PROJECTING IMAGES THEREFROM Original Filed March 28, 1930 s Sheets-Sheet 1 l i i i ATTORNEY3 Jan. 21, 1936. I K, gum- 5 2,028,146 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING TAPE AND PROJECTING IMAGES THEREFROM Original Filed March 28, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z 26 A l 24 "IHi 1, 1

ll H1 I h ||h i 0 E :5 AT b o as 37 4? 33 lgYENTO? BY A 51,16 TM A; ATTORNEY Jan. 21, 1936. K. L, gum-ls 2,028,145 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING TAPE AND PROJECTING IMAGES THEREFROM Original Filed March 28, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 BY M 67704! :4 ATTORNEY NVENTOR @waz '1. W

r Patented 21, "1936 t uNrl'Eo STATE? REISSUED 2,028,146

JUL 29 I941 2,028,146 7 METHOD or AND APPARATUS FOR mien ING TAPE AND PROJECTING IMAGES THEREFROM Kenneth L. Curtis, New York, N. Y., assignor to Trans-Luz Daylight Picture Screen Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Dela- .ware

, Application March 28, 1930, Serial No. 439,570

Renewed June 20, 1934 10 Claims.

This invention relates to' method of and apparatus for controlling movement of a tape or the like. I A

The embodiment of the'invention shown and v described herein comprises the usual form of A stock ticker from which tape with quotations printed by the ticker is fed out with a jerky or pulsating motion which is changed into 'a relatively steady movement as the tape is being magnified by the projector in order to avoid magnifying at the same time the jerks given the tape by the ticker and thus rendering the quotations illegible.

The tape should glide across the projector shortly after its release by the ticker and this gliding is preferably accomplished by a separate take-up motor which moves the tape at about the same speed it is released from the ticker. Since the ticker is constantly starting and stopping,

, the take-up motor should also be ready to start and stop in such manner that the total rate of feed past the projection axis; is commensurate with the total rate of feed from theticker. It is greatly desirable that the rate of feed past the projection axis be continuous for as long a period as. is possible and to this end, therefore, the rate of feed past the projection axis during such periods should vary according to the rate of intermittent feed of theticker during the corresponding period. Likewise, it is desirable that the motor be continuously energized during this period of continuous feed, so that, with a ticker which is adapted to operate at a high rate of speed, the fluctuations between a fast market and a slow market may be handled throughout the wide range of speed, and yet the device'be' sufficiently sensitive not to permitan undesirable ime interval between ticker feed and projection feed in a fast market. v

, That is, if the ticker slows up to a certain de- 40 gree, the motor feeding tape past the projector will remain energized and continuously running at a speed variable in accordance with theticker feed, whereas if the ticker stops or nearly stops the feed motor will be deenergized, the object being to keep the motor energized .and in continuous operation'for as long sustained periods as possible and merely varying its speed to accommodate the varying ticker feed. When the ticker stops, the motor'must stop to prevent 5o breaking th tape or damaging the ticker, and

therefore the contact must also serve to immediately break the motor circuit in this event. 1 It will be understood that the invention may advantageously be used with tickers which operate at constant speed as well as with those wherein the speed of operation is variable.

To fulfill these desirable conditions a method of operation providing a sensitive control, flexible in operation, is required. In addition the apparatus for effecting such control should operate without injury to the tape or other parts of the apparatus and it should also be simple and not apt to get out of order, but easily repaired, if repair is required. The principal objects of this invention are to provide a method whereby these 15 desired conditions will be fulfilled and a device of the character mentioned which shall possess these desired characteristics.

Further objects of the invention will more fully appearfrom the following description taken in 20 connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating by way of example the preferred embodiments of the apparatus used in carrying out the method.

In-the accompanying drawings, showing by 25 way of example the present preferredembodiments of the invention:

Fig. 1 is an elevation showing certain parts diagrammatically for clearness;

Fig.:2 is a diagrammatic view of certain parts 30 of the apparatus other than the ticker;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the suction head; Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line H of Fig. 3; v v

Fig. 5 is an end elevation, partly in section, and 35 showing tape positions with respect to the suction head;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing a modi fleationof the apparatus shown in Fig; 2;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of a modified suc- 40 tion head;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7; and r I Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

, Referring to the drawings and particularly Fig. 1, the ticker mechanism is designated as l and the projecting device as 2. The ticker records printed characters-stock quotations-on tape and ejects the printed tape with a pulsating movement. The ticker here shown isthe well known Western Union stock quotation ticker. The frame of the ticker is designated as 3. It supports a roll of tape 3 which may be made of transparent or translucent material for transparent projection or opaque material for opaque projeotion. The tape from the roll passes upwardly between feed rolls 5 and 6 from whence it passes over the platen mechanism 1 and beneath the type wheel 8, which is in contact with the ink roll 9. The type wheel 8 carries two rows of printing characters such as numerals and figures respectively and is adapted to come into co'operative position with the platen l to print the two sets of characters on respectively opposite edges of the tape' i. From this position thetape passes over a support It and is formed into a loop l l.

The loop H terminates adjacent the edge of the table i2 of the projector 2, across which the tape passes and then passes downwardly to a take-up device, which is operated to feedv the tape 4 across the table l2. The forward end of table i2 also provides a. support for the tape in r its path of movement from the ticker to the projection axis; and this support is so positioned as to provide a space in the path of travel of the tape for the formation of the lo'op. The take-up device may be of any suitable form and in the present embodiment comprises an electric motor M suitably geared to and driving a wheel i5, between which and the resiliently pressed idle wheel iii the tape is engaged to be moved in the direction as indicated. The tape is passed around the idle roll I! to increase its peripheral engagement with the wheel I5. This take-up motor is such that if not retarded under control of the ticker feed, it will feed the tape from theloop faster than it is fed to the lo'op-by the ticker when the ticker is'running at maximum speed. The projector lamp is designated as I8 and the light therefrom is passed through a suitable lens table l2 contiguous to the loop H and is adapted 50 tocreate sumcient friction to entirely absorb any pulsations produced by the ticker that may not have. been absorbed by the loop and suction means hereinafter described, so as to eliminate such pulsations at the projection axis.

A' controi means for varying the operation of the motor it, and for starting and stopping thesame will now be described, with particular reference to Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5. A fixed suction head designated in general as 2 3 is'suitably secured,

between the ticker l and the projector 2 adjacent the projector table l2, and in the path of movement of the tape loop I I. This suction head carries integral therewith an orifice or mouth 25, elongated in the direction of movement of the tape, and whose adjacent surface is so fo'rmed and positioned as to permit the tape of the loop II to lie over the mouth and close it to a more or less degree depending upon the extent of the loop. The mouth 25 communicates with a valve chamber 26 (Fig. 4) through the passage 21. A mo'vable valve member, in the present embodi- --ment a piston 28, preferably of light weight and easily actuated by a small suction head, is in cooperative association with the chamber 21,

such as by being slidably positioned in the chainher 2'1. A passage 29 also communicates with the chamber 26 through the passage 21, and the passage 29 communicates with one end of a tube 30 (Fig. 2), the other end of which communicates with a suction device 3| which is operated by a motor 32. Accordingly when the mouth 25 is restricted by the tape H to a more or less degree, suction through 29 will create a condition of suction in the chamber 26 directly in accordance with the said restriction, which will raise the piston 28 a corresponding extent.

The piston 28 is provided with a depending rod 33 whose lower end is adjustably secured to an insulating strip 3% integral with and forming an extension of a spring steel strip 35, and totion the respective co'ntact arms 35, 36, 31 and 38 are electrically attached to binding posts or screws 45, 46, 41 and 88, carried by brass strips to which are attached also the contact arms, the brass stripsbeing clamped together in insulated relation and supported by means of the insulating blocks attached to the head 24 by means of the machine screw 49.

Referring now to Fig. 2, it will be seen tha the power circuits for the light [8, feed motor M, and suction motor 32 are adapted to be con nected with the power line 40, by means of suitable switches M and 62. One branch of the cireuit to the motor lfl'is designated as 43 and the other as, M, while the circuits to the motor 32 are designated as 65 and 46. Variable resistance is provided in the motor circuit and in the present embodiment takes the form of individual resistances M and 48, which are shown as inserted in the line M. The line 44 is connected to contact arm 35, contact 36 is connected to Me, contact 31 to Mb, and contact 38 to M0; one of the pairs of contacts and associated arms and one of the branch lines Ma, Mb or Me, always being in the branch line '45 when the corresponding pair of contacts is closed and the motor is in operation. When M0; is in circuit both resistances M and 58 are in circuit, when Mb is in circuit the resistance 4? only is in circuit, and when Me is in circuit the resistances are both shunted out. A condenser 49 preferably is placed across the first pair of contacts to prevent arcing.

It will therefore be seen that as loop of tape varies in extent, as indicated by the nested curves of loop H in Fig. 5, due to the variable ticker ejection, the mouth 25 will be proportionately restricted, the suction proportionately increased in the valve chamber, the valve member proportionately raised or lowered, and the pairs of contacts pro-portionately closed or opened; to thereby proportionately vary the speed of the motor by varying the resistance. The loop 1 I (Fig. 5) as designated in its full line position, is free of any restricting influence on the control. In the dotted position Ila it has just commenced to restrict the mouth 25 and has causedthe contaets 39-60 to close and hence has energized the motor which will therefore operate'at low speed in view of the two resistances "and as. In position ||b the first resistance 48 has been cut out and the motor |4 therefore will be speeded up;

- while at 41 both resistances have been cut out siliently held by the J spring and the motor therefore will run at highest speed.

Operation When it is desired to operate the devicethe ticker I is started and the switches 4| and 42 are closed. The motor 32 operates the pump 3| to create suction in the line 38 which communicates through the passage 21 and through the mouth to atmosphere.' The tape at this time is approaching the mouth 25 due to the ticker ejection, but has not yet started to restrict the mouth;

and accordingly the contacts 39 and 40 are open, thereby opening the line 44 in circuit with the motor |4. As the tape is ejected the loop extends down to the position indicated as ||a (Fig. 5) and there commences to restrict the mouth 25, the tape passing on over the suction head 24 to the projecting table I2 against which it is re- 23. From the table l2 the tape passeson to the take-up rolls I5, I5,

H, from where it may be taken up on a wind up reel (not shown). With the tape loop H in the position shown at I la, the mouth 25 is sufhciently restricted to create increased suction in the valve chamber 25 to thereby slightly raise the valve member or piston 28; This in turn. bends the contact arm 35 upwardly, thereby causing the contacts 39, 40 to come into engagement and to complete the electrical circuit from motor l4. Since this circuit includes the resistances 41, 48, the motor M will commence running at its low speed. As the ticker ejects tape at a faster rate, so as to cause the loop to form such as H b, the mouth is further restricted and the suction increased to cause the valve member 28 to be lifted still further,thereby bending upwardly the contact arms 35 and 36 and causing the contact points 4| and 42 also to come into engagement, thereby shunting the circuit over 4427 and cutting out the first resistances 48 and therefore resulting in speeding up the motor. On further increasing the rate'of ticker feed, the tape'loop forms as He, to entirely or substantially entirely close the mouth 25', thereby again increasing the suction to further raise the piston 28, with the result that the contact arms 35, 36 anclv 31 are bent upwardly to cause the contacts 43 and 44 to come into engagement and shunt the motor circuit over the line 44c and thereby cut out both of the resistances Hand 48 and hence cause the motor to run at its fastest speed. Conversely, when the rate of ticker ejection is slowed up, the motor will be slowed up, it being understood that the chief object is to keep the feed motor |4 energized and operating through as long periods as possible, and to vary the take up feed throughout such periods, in accordance with the varying feed of the tape from the ticker. This isrvery desirable, particularly in viewof the high speed tickers now utilized. When the loop opens or. substantially opens the mouth 25, the suction head is vented to the atmosphere and accordingly the piston 28 moves to its lower position, entirely opening the circuit to motor l4 and causing the motor to cease operation.

Modification I In Figs. 6, '2, a and 9 I have illustrated a modified form of the invention in which a modified form of suction head and valve-operating mechanism is shown. The diagrammaticshowing in F 6 includes other parts of the apparatus similar in all respects to those shown in Fig. 2, and for purposes of simplifying the understanding of the modifications the corresponding parts of Figs. 2 and 6 bear the same numerals, but in Fig. 6 the suflix prime has been added.

In Fig. 6 the modified suction headis designated as 50, and in place of the single mouth heretofore described, the two months 5| and 52 are provided, being slightly separated in the longitudinal direction of'movement of the ticker tape. Referring more particularly to Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the suction head comprises a chamber 53 which communicates through ports 54, 55, with two simple bellows valves 56, 51, the bellows 55 communicating with the mouth 5| and the bellows 51 communicating with the downwardly spaced mouth 52. The bellows 55 is provided with contacts 39', 40' which are normally open but are adapted to be closed when the bellows is collapsed, and the bellows 51 is provided with contacts 4|, 42 which are normally open but are adapted to be closed when the bellows is collapsed. The springs 58 and 59 serve to normally hold the bellows open. In the present embodiment of the modification only two sets of contacts are used, and accordingly only two steps of speed are provided for the motor M, as will be clearly seen from Fig. 6.

The operation of the device is quite similar to that heretofore described, with the exception that the loop first acts to restrict or entirely close the mouth5| which increases the suction in the bellows55, causing it to collapse' and close the contacts 39', 40' to thereby close the motor circuit over the line 4411/ through the two resistances 41', 48', to thereby operate the motor at lowest speed. When the loop extends further downwardly the mouth 52 is restricted or closed to thereby close the contacts 4|, 42 in a similar manner and hence to shunt the motor circuit over the line 44b to cut out the resistances 48' and hence speed up the motor. Conversely, the motor is slowed down as the tape uncovers the mouth 52 and is entirely stopped when the tape moves away from the mouth 5|.

Having thus described my invention with particularity with reference to its preferred forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, after understanding my invention, that various other changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and I aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as are within the scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a projection means toward which a character-bearing tape is movable after ejection from a recording means under the control of the feed mechanism thereof, an electrical take-up motor operating independently of said feed mechanism for moving said tape past the projection axis of said projecting means, variable resistance in circuit with said motor, supporting means for said tape in'its path of travel from said recording means to said projection axis positioned to provide a gap between said recording means and said projection axis for a loop of said tape, and control means actuated by said loop for varying said resistance'to vary the speed of l creasing the dlirationof the periods during which tape is moved past said axis, said control means comprising a switch contact member having an actuating member connected thereto for moving said contact member in either of opposite directions to change the speed of said motor.

2. The method of feeding a character-bearing tape, ,whi m comprises creating a condition of suction adjacent a loop of said tape, causing said suction to be altered by said loop, and operating I an electric motor at a non-uniform rate of speed said chamber, means for creating suction in said chamber, and a plurality of electrical contacts with means whereby respective contacts may be progressively closed by the operation of: said valve. t

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a suction head having a niouth over which the tape passes, said mouth communicating with an integral valve chamber, a valve. in said valve chamber and operated by suction in said chamber, means for creating suction in said chamber, a plurality of electrical contacts,-

and means operated by said valve for progressively closing said contacts whereby respective contacts may be-progressively closed by the operation of said-valve.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a suction head having a mouth over which the tape passes, said mouth communicating with a valve chamber, a valve in said valve chamber and operated by suction in said chamber, means for creating suction in said chamber a flexible contact arm operatively connected to said valve to be deflected by the operation thereof and carrying a first contact, and a plurality of cooperating flexible contact armscarrying cooperating contacts, said contacts and arms being so arranged that upon operation of said valve respective pairs of contacts will be closed progressively.

6. In a projection system, the-combination with a projection field toward which a character= bearing tape is'fed at a non-uniform rate, oi

suction port adapted to be more or less covered by an adjacent section of the tape loop.

a 7. In a projection system, the combination with a projection field toward which a characterbearing tape is fed from a tape rgl by the feed mechanism of a printing device at varying rates of speed, of a motor operative independently of said feed mechanism for pulling said tape through said projection field, tape-controlled means for starting and stopping said motor, and means operating in accordance with the rate at which tape is fed from said printing device for operating said motor at a speed proportional to the rate of tape feed, said last named means comprising a switch contact member having an actuating member connected thereto for moving said contact member in, either of opposite directions to change the speed of said motor.

8. In a projection system, the combination with a projection field toward which a character-bearing tape is fed from a tape roll by the feed mechanism of a printing device at varying rates of speed, of a motor operative independentv 1y of said feed mechanism for pulling said tape through said projection field, tape-controlled means for starting and stopping said motor, and tape-controlled means operating in accordance g with the rate at which tape is fed from said printing device for operating said motor at a speed proportional to the rate of tape feed, said last named means comprising a switch contact member having an actuating member connected thereto for moving said contact member in either of opposite directions to change the speed of said motor.

9. Ina projection system, the combination.

with a projection field toward which a characte'r-bearing tape is fed from a tape roll by the feed mechanism of a printing device at vary- -ing rates of speed, of a motor operating inde-' pendently of said feed mechanism for pullingsaid tape through said projection field, and means operative after said motor has been brought to normal speed for varying the speed thereof, said In ns serving to vary the speed of said motor wi hout discontinuing the operation thereof, said means comprising a switch contact member having an actuating member connected thereto for moving said contact member in either of opposite directions to change the speed of said motor. 10. In a projection system, the combination with a projection field toward which a character-bearing. tape is fed from a tape roll by the feed mechanism of a printing device at varying rates of speed, of a motor operating independently of said feed mechanism for pulling said tape through said projection field, and means tor starting and progressively increasing the speed of said motor to bring it to normal speed, said means being thereafter operative to vary the speed of said motor without discontinuing the operation thereof, said means comprising a switch contact member having an actuating member connected thereto for moving said contact member in either of opposite directions to change the speed of said motor.

mnnn'rn L. CURTIS. 

